Economists estimate extreme poverty could be drastically reduced for a fraction of global defence spending, yet military budgets continue to expand year on year, says JON TRICKETT MP, ahead of the Stop the War International Conference on Saturday
Latest editorial
Happy May Day!
PETER FROST looks at the twin historical stories of why we are celebrating May Day today
As Unison launches its Year of Women Workers, ANNIE COGAN-THOMAS argues that stronger organisation and collective bargaining are essential to winning equality
Trade unions, trades councils and community organisations must work together to build lasting solidarity and resistance to the far right, argues DREW GILCHRIST
Recent violence in Belfast was not spontaneous — it was built on years of failure and political neglect, argues STIOFAN O NUALLAIN
As delegates meet in Brighton this week, Unison faces pressing questions about pay, organising, workers’ rights and political representation, explains ANDY CHAFFER
Andy Burnham’s growing stature has fuelled hopes of a Labour revival – but ALAN SIMPSON warns that Britain’s crisis runs far deeper than just its leadership and traces its roots to decades of financialised capitalism
WORKERS all over the world will come together to demonstrate and celebrate May Day — the international workers’ holiday.
May Day has always been a red festival and long before that it has been a widely known green countryside celebration marking the rebirth and regrowth of nature — the rekindling of life after winter.
In this article I’ll try to explore these two parallel histories of this important day. I’ll start with the workers’ celebration when red banners fly in the spring sunshine all across the globe and go on to another, more traditional, celebration of the end of winter and the approach of the better weather of summer.
Similar stories
As extremist movements grow on the streets and at the ballot box, the emergence of the Together Alliance points to a vital strategy: unity across trade unions, campaigners and communities, says TONY CONWAY
CJ ATKINS commemorates one of the most dramatic moments in working-class history
SYMON HILL looks at Tommy Robinson’s bid to use Christmas to spread division and hate — and reminds us that’s the opposite of Jesus’s message
CLIVE HASWELL introduces the latest edition of Cardiff’s left-wing conference, which will take a broad and non-sectarian approach to who the left should vote for, welcoming approaches from all major progressive parties that hope to transform the world